THE ORPHAN SCRIVENER ISSUE # TWENTY-NINE l5 OCTOBER 2004

A citrus landscape spreads out around us as these words are written. (Yes, you in the back row, we can both type without looking at the keyboard!). We mean, of course, the autumn colour is just at peak, and so flaring patches of deep orange, bright lemon, and lustrous lime foliage (not to mention branches bearing grapefruit pulp ruby leaves) are to be seen glowing here and there, brilliant islands in a dark, rolling sea of evergreens.

But it won't remain that way for long.

Robert Browning was of the opinion that autumn mutely appeals for sympathy because of its decay, but what a glorious decay fall exhibits! Not only the splashes of colour spreading across the hills, but also its crisp nights followed by milky curtains of morning mist, dissipating into golden days that surprise with the heat of their afternoon sun. Pumpkins and chrysanthemums, along with the first nuts and last apples, crowd farmers' markets, while in the evenings our thoughts turn to cocoa and hot cider.

A few leaves have already fallen, reminding us winter is not far away. The latter's impending arrival also means the probable appearance of a field mouse or two at Casa Maywrite, bent on finding winter quarters, not to mention nocturnal opportunities to steal cat chow and squirrel it away in murine moonlight maraudings.

However, it's no good subscribers belatedly trying to steal away to avoid this latest edition of Orphan Scrivener. It's here, and since you've read this far you may as well read on!